Gas-making and charge-forming apparatus for internal-combustion engines.



Patented Dec. 24, 1912 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

w ATTORNEY K E. W. STEVENS. GAS MAKINGAND CHARGE FORMING APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL'GOMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JULYB, 1910. 1,048,224.

, 4 'ma il g E. W. STEVENS.

GAS MAKING AND CHARGE EORMING APPARATUS PoE INTERNAL GoMBUsTloN ENGINES.'

APPLICATION FILED JULY 8,1910.

1,048,224, Patented Deo.24,191'2,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

TTORNE Y UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEroE.

ELEEI'DGE W. STEVENS, 0E BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

GAS-MAKING AND CHAEGE-FOEMING APPARATUS EOE INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24, 19112.

Application filed July 8, 1910. Serial No. 570,938.

Forming A\pparatus for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to gas. making andv charge forming apparatus for internal combustion engmesdesigned more especially for utilizing the heavy oils for the purpose, in-

stead of gasolene.

The operation of internal combustion engines with heavy oils has attained but a very limited measure of success, owing to the difficulty of forming explosive charges which will burnt@ perfect combustion without fouling the engine with deposits of carbon..r At the same time anengine which can successfully operate on these oils is a great desideratum owingL 'to\ the lower cost of the oil and the freedom from the dangers of explosion.

The object of my` invention is to overcome the difficulties heretofore enpountered in this field and to produce a reliable, effective, and economical engine of this type.

My gas making and charge forming apparatus utilizes the suction stroke of the piston to draw a mixture of oil and air, or'

oil, air and Water` through the pores of a refractory porous fixing medium constructed and-arranged iu a novel way and utilizing the hot exhaustgases of the engine to heat said fixing medium to effect the homogeneous and stable union of the. air and hydrocarbon lwhile passing through the porous medium and in such proportions and chemi- `cal constitution as toV make a properly balanced `explosive charge. The engine proper comprehends a cylinder with piston and intake valve connected to a new'form of gas making apparatus containing a refractory fixing cylinder of porous earthcnware, a mixing valve for air and hydrocarbon leading into the said apparatus and a conduit from the exhaustI of the engine toit-he gas making apparatus whereby the porous cylinder is heated by the exhaust gases and is made to effect a union between the air and hydrocarbon as they are drawn through said hot, porous, refractory fixing cylinder, as

hereinafter more fully described with reference to the drawing in which: VFigure l is `a sectional side elevation of the entire organization of coacting elements. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through line Q`-2 of the gas making apparatus of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a similar section through line 3 3. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section showing a modification of the fixing cylinder of V the gas making apparatus and Fig. 5 is a modified form of the mixing valve adapted to mix hydrocarbon. air and water when introdueed into the gas making apparatus.

In the drawing 1 represents any 'type of internal combustion engine having a cylinder 2, piston 3, intake valve 4, communicating with gas supply pipe 6, and exhaust valve 5 communicating 'with discharge pipe 7.

M is a cylindrical casing closed by two heads N and L. Concentrically within the same is supported a cylinder Y of a refractory porousnature, such as baked and unglazed earthenware made by mixing clay and carbon and removing the carbon by prolonged burning, which leaves the clay.

porous. `()utside of the porous earthen cylinder Ais a dast iron cylinder I) and inside of the porous cylinder is a cast iron cylinder'G. Each of these iron cylinders is cast with a helical ehannclway, the outer cylinder D having interior helical channelway E, E1, E2, E3, E, E5, and the inner cylinder G having exterior helical channelway F, F1,F2, F3, F", F5, and these channelways are so spaced in relation to each other as to come directly opposite to each other with the porous cylinder wall between them forming an outer continuous helical channelway and an inner continuous helical channelway, so that gases can pass from the outer channelway to the inner channelway at a multiplicity of points throughout the porous cylinder. At. intervening points, as at C C', the metal of the two iron cylinders abuts close against and in contact with the porous cylinder.

The interior helical channelway 'at F5 communicates with the supply pipe 6 that leads the explosive charge to the intake valve 4 of the engine and at. its other end F itI is entirely closed except through the substance of porous cylinder Y. The outer helical channelway at E communicates at yay entirely closed except through the substance of the porous cylinder Y.

The inner iron channeled cylinder G 1s `supportedconcentrically from ,the heads N' and L by lag screws X X and the porous earthen cylinder Y and outer iron channeled cylinder D are concentrically supported upon the inner cylinder 7Gr. There is'anopen space' inside the inner cylinder and outside the outer -cylinder and between the head L and the gas fixing cylinder and this open space is connected to thedischarge pipe 7 of the exhaust valveof the engine so that allA three of the cylinders D, Gr, Y are surround* ed by the hot gases of the exhaust which, after passing through the casing M, escape througlran outlet at K. Both of the impervious cylinders -D and G are shorter than thc outer casing cylinder M and wholly within its head and at one end said cylin-` ders D and G are 0H set from the head L of the casing by a lug into which one of the screws Xis entered so that the spaces around the o-uter cylinder D and within the inner cylinder G are in open communication with each other. v

The operation of my engine ris as follows: The passage of air and hydrocarbon through the porous cylinder is energized by a differentiation 'of pressure on opposite'sides of the porous cylindrical septum. This in the present inst-ance is effected by suction on the inner side of the cylinder. On the suction stroke of the engine a partial vacuum -is formed in the cylinder 2, pipe 6 and the interior helical channelway F5 't F Vand this through the porous cylinder walls makes a reduced pressure or partial vacuum in the outer channelway E5 to E. This suction allows the intake valve b of the mixing valve H to open vand take in air' from a and a limited and regulated amount of oil at 0 causing the two to become mixedrin proper proportion. This mixture passes through the walls of the porous cylinder at a multiplicity of points along the helical channelway. As this mixture passes through, the molecules are brought into intimate unionand a fixed gas is formed by the heat of the exhaust gases from the engine.v It will be seen Athatv at points .C C where the iron cylinders touch the porous cylinder, the hot exhaust gases heat the parts C C which are made to directly transfer their heat byconductive contact tothe pocarbon oil.

nelway .F to F5, so that thel intake pipe 6--of 'the engine constantly supplies a high grade of noncondensing gas to the engine from low grade oils not heretofore successfully em ploycd. The admixture of air is very important as it supplies the oxygen to combine with the excess of carbon. "The special form of gasifying device, with Va heating space inside the cylinder G and also outside the cylinder D, is correlated to a mixing valve mounted on the casing and mixing a heavy oil and air, in that such heavy oil not only requires air in admixture, but a relatively high degree of heat for their Igasilication inv a porous cylinder which is efectively supplied by the inner and outer application of. heat tothe porous cylinder. As the exhaust passes into the casing M of the gas making apparatus it will be seen that the latter acts as a muiiier and the heat units, which are ordinarily wasted, are converted into useful effect 1n heating the porous cylinder and effect-ing the union between the hydrocarbon and air to make a lixed gas, which is due partly to the high temperature and partly to the minute subdivision and surface action of the refractory porous materiabaslheo bodies, air and vapor` pass through the po rous cylinder. It will be seen that' in the forced passage of air and gas through the" porous cylinder the direction of passage is from vthe exterior to the interior, which utilizes the principle of the arch in the cylinder `to prevent breakingstrains and the inner cylinder G Aholds and braces it at a plurality of points along its lengthagainst such stress.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 I have shown a straight plain porous cyiinder'and have formed the helical channelways in the two metal cylinders, but I may, as a modification, form the passageways' in .the porous cylinder and use a straight and plain inner and outer metal cylinder asseen `in Fig. 4, in which Y1 is the porous cylinder, D1 the outer metal cylinder and Gr1 the inner metal cylinder. In this modification the transit of the gases through the porous cylinderLis. parallel to #fthe axis of the cylinders as indicatedthe arrows.

As so far described my invention contemplates the union of air alone with the hydro- I may, however, combine with the air and hydrocarbon a certain propor-f tion of water in the form of vapor or steam. For this purpose a double mixing valve, as seen in Fig. 5, may be employed in which oil and water are both brought into admixture `with vthe air, or two mixinff valves may be to use it With allgrades of hydrocarbons and may vary the construction and arrangement in many respects without departing from my invention as set forth in the claims.

As a means for starting the gas making apparatus before the engine comes into action, I provide the casing M, see Fig. l, with two or more capped openings A A at the bottom and two similar capped vents B B at the top. Through the openings A the flame of a gasolene torch is applied to preliminarily heat up the gas making apparatus, the products of combustion escaping through the top vents B. As soon as the porous cylinder is suiliciently heated the starting'torches are removed, the closingcaps applied at A and B and the engine is started to suck the air and hydrocarbon through.

I claim, Y

1. A gas making apparatus, 'comprising a porous cylinder having passageways around it for the transmission of air and hydrocarbon through it at a plurality ,of points, said passageways having inlet and outlet openings one ofvwhich is adapted to be con nected with meansfor energizing the passage of air and hydrocarbon through the porous cylinder, and means for heating the same.

2. A gas making apparatus, comprising a porous cylindcr'having passageways around it for the transmission of air and hydro'- carbon through it at a plurality of points, said passageways having inletand outlet openings one of which is adapted to be connected with means 'for energizing the passage ofair and hydrocarbon through the porous cylinder, and means for heating the same consisting of an inclosing casing having an opening adapted to receive hot gases.

3. A gas making apparatus, comprising a porous cylinder having passageways around it for the transmission of air and hydrocarbon through it at a plurality of points, said passageways having inlet and outlet open ings one of which is adapted, to be connected with means for energizing the passage of air and hydrocarbon' through the porous cylinder,` and means lfor heating the same consisting of a cylindrical casing having an open-y ing in its end adapted to receive hot gases and alsov openings in the sides for initial heating.

4. A' gas making apparatus, comprising a porous cylinder having continuous helical passzugeways around it for the transmission of air and hydrocarbon through it at a plurality of points said passagew: ys having inlet and outlet openings one of which is adapted to connect with means for energizing the passage of air and hydrocarbon through the porous cylinder, and means for heating the same.

5. A gas making apparatus, comprising a porous cylinder having passageways around it for the transmission of air and hydrocarbon through it at a plurality of points, said passageways having inlet and outlet openings one of which is adapted to connect with means for energizing the passage of air and hydrocarbon through the porous cylinder and said passageways being formed ot' grooved castings one inside and the other outside the walls of the porous cylinder and abutting at intervals against said walls, and means tor heating the same.

A gas making apparatus, comprising a porous cylinder having a passageway around its exterior surface and a passageway inside said cylinder, an air and hydrocarbon mixing'valve communicating with one oit' said passageways to pass the mixture otair and hydrocarbon through the same and one of said passageways having an outlet'adapted to connect Vwith means for energizing the passage of air and hydrocarbon through the porous cylinder, an inclosing casing and means for passing hot gases into the casing and around and within the cylinder.

7. A gas making apparatus, comprising a porous cylinder having a helical passagewayr around its exterior surface and a helical passageway inside said cylinder, an air and hydrocarbon mixing valve communicating with one of said passageways to pass the mixture of a` and hydrocarbon through the same and one of said passageways having an outlet adapted to connect with means Yfor energizing the passage of air and hydrocarbon through .the porous cylinder, an inclos ing casing and means for passing. hot gases into the casing and around and within the cylinder. 4

8l A gas making apparatus, comprising a porous cylinder having a helical passageway around its exterior surface and a separate helical passagewagharound lts interior sur- Aface, said passageways having an inlet and outlet, one of Which is adapted to connect with means for energizing the passage of air and hydrocarbon through the porous cylinder, an -inclosing casing and means for passing hot gases into the casing and around and Within the cylinder.

9. A gas making apparatus comprising` a tube of porous material, other tubes of substantially impervious material arranged one inside ot said porous tube and Ythe other outside thereof, there being a space between eachof said latter tubes and the adjacent surface of the porous tube, means for delivering a hydrocarbon fluid to oneV of said spaces, there beinga discharge duct leading from the, other of said spaces, the inner im-` i lll-i to vform heating spaces for the'reception ofl a heating Huid outside of the outer imper.

pervious tube having also a heating lspace within the same, a casing wholly inclosing all of said tubes and made of greater length than the same and off set from the sides ofY the tubes and also from one end of said tubes vious tube, inside the inner impervious .tube

andbetween the ends of the impervious tubes and the end of the casing.

10.` A 4device for gasifying hydrocarbon y liquids, comprising a tube of porous material, other tubes of `substantially impervious material arranged the one inside of said .porous tube and the other .outside thereof,v 'there being a space between each of said latter tubes and the adjacent surface of the porous tube, a mixing valve formixing air and hydrocarbon and delivering the mixture tov one vof saidspaces, there being a discharge duct leading from the other ofk said spaces and means for circulating a heating fluid in heating proximity to said tubes.

l1. A- device for gasifying hydrocarbon liquids, comprisinga tube of porous material, other tubes of substantially impervious 'j material arranged the one inside of said porous tube and the other outside thereof, there' being a space between each of said latter tubes and the adjacent surface of the porous tube, a mixing valve for mixing air and hydrocarbon and delivering the mixture to one of said spaces, there being a discharge duct leading from the other of said spaces and lmeans 'for circulating a heating fluid in heat-ing proximity to said tubes comprising means for passing such heating fluid through the interior of the innermost tube.

12. A device for making an explosive gas from hydrocarbon oils, comprising a tube of porous material, other tubes of substantially impervious material arranged,the one inside of said porous tube and the other outside thereof, there being a 'space between each of said latter tubes and the adjacent surface of the porous tube, a surrounding casing;` spaced away from said tubes, av mixing' valve mounted on said casing for mixing air Vand hydrocarbon and delivering the mixture surface of the porous tube, asurrounding casing spaced away'from said tubes, a mixing valve mounted on said casing for mixing air and hydrocarbon and delivering the mixture directly to` one of said spaces beside the porous tube, there being a discharge., uct

leading from the other of such spaces, said casing having an inlet and outlet forlcirculating a heating fluid through the sameA and the inner one of said impervious tubes having an opening throughits center in open communication with the space lbetween the casing and the outer impervious tube to receive the heating iiuidon both sidesxof the porous cylinder.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. ELBRIDGE W. STEVENS.

Witnesses: v

SoLoN C. KEMoN, J. MIDDLETON. 

